Plans for south Silver Spring residential units changed

Galaxy development will have fewer stories, dwellings

The project originally called for 321 units in two 12-story towers and one four-story building.

RST Development principal Scott Copeland said the market will determine whether the units will be condominiums or rentals. RST Development is also behind the 145-unit Aurora Condominiums on Eastern Avenue in south Silver Spring. Formerly abandoned office buildings, the Aurora Condominiums were completed in April 2006.

The high-rises had been vacant for more than a dozen years before they were targeted by RST Development, which saw the buildings’ promise after the successful 2004 renovation of a similar property — the 180-unit Gramax Towers on 13th Street.

Aurora residents have been waiting for the Galaxy because of the parking that would come with it and a promise by the developer that they would have access to the private spaces.

‘‘I know the people in the Aurora especially expected this building to have been built already. So did I,” Copeland said at a Sept. 26 meeting with nearby residents held at the Galaxy’s sales office. The Planning Board originally approved plans for the Galaxy in 2005, and a site plan was approved in January 2006.

The new plans would include 274 private parking spaces for residents of the Aurora and the Galaxy and 160 public spaces run by the county, a decrease from the more than 400 private spaces included in the old plan. Not every unit would have access to a parking spot, Copeland said.

The retail space was added in response to community requests. Copeland said he has not identified any potential retailers yet.

‘‘The retail is a great addition. We’ll see. ... Hopefully, it gets through,” said Jason Gedeik, who lives in the Aurora.

The retail space is a good opportunity to diversify the area’s retail offerings, said Evan Glass, president of the South Silver Spring Neighborhood Association and a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board.

Residents have lobbied for more choices in south Silver Spring, noting that most of the new stores and restaurants in the downtown area have been added farther north near Ellsworth Drive.

A restaurant, sports bar or deli would fit well in the larger retail space, Glass said. Copeland said the smaller could be used as an arts space.

Copeland said he hoped the project would get on the Planning Board’s agenda early next year; a public hearing would follow.

‘‘I’m not committing to any timelines beyond what I’m doing now,” he said.